Northern state schools come to IU

After traveling to Missouri on Wednesday only to be rained out, the IU softball team returns home this weekend for four Big Ten games that could have an impact on postseason play.\nWednesday, the Hoosiers traveled all the way to Missouri only to have the game called because of weather.\n"Being on a bus for six hours, we definitely wanted to play," said freshman Rachel Carlson.\nWith injuries plaguing the IU defense, Carlson, who came to IU as an outfielder, has played shortstop in the last several games.\nThe Hoosiers will face Minnesota and Wisconsin, the two teams ahead of IU in the conference standings. Only the top eight teams will make the Big Ten tournament with IU currently in the 10th slot.\n"We are very capable of winning the majority of our last ten Big Ten games," said IU coach Stacey Phillips. "We hope to get two wins out of this weekend, and hopefully the weather will let us play."\nMinnesota is riding its longest winning streak of the season with four games and will try to continue that streak at 4 p.m. today beginning and then at noon Saturday.\nThe Golden Gophers have a 22-20 record overall and a 3-7 mark in Big Ten play.\nSophomore catcher Megan Higginbotham leads the team with a .370 batting average while senior Lyn Peyer anchors the pitching staff with a 13-12 record and 2.34 ERA.\nLast season, IU split a doubleheader with the Badgers.\nThe Hoosiers will tangle with the Wisconsin Badgers (17-19 overall, 3-7 in Big Ten play) Sunday for a doubleheader beginning at noon. Just like Minnesota, the Badgers have a four-game winning streak heading into this weekend's play.\nThe Badgers feature a balanced offense led by seniors Boo Gillette and Anastasia Miller and their team-leading eight home runs and 23 runs a piece. \nWith only seven games remaining after this weekend, beating Minnesota and Wisconsin is key if the Hoosiers want to make the Big Ten tourney.\n"We need some victories," said sophomore left fielder Heather Hohs. "All of us want to be there (Big Ten Tournament) so we'll be gunning for Minnesota and Wisconsin."\nTo jump ahead in the standings, IU must revive an offense that has struggled at the plate in recent games.\nThe Hoosiers have managed only four runs in their last six games, but they hope to turn things around this weekend.\nPhillips offered a simple solution to the hitting woes. \n"Swing as hard as they can against strikes," Phillips said. \nBecause it is so late in the season and the schools are so far apart, IU will not make up its doubleheader against Missouri. \nThe games are scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday against Minnesota and noon Sunday against Wisconsin. All home softball games are played at the IU Softball Field located off of Fee Lane behind the Foster Residence Center.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Tim O'Brien at tpobrien@indiana.edu.